Tour-Smart Limited

Cottage retreat for two with tennis court, South Devon down 20% from £402pw
For couples Helpful Holidays have a cottage retreat sleeping just two with shared use of a hard tennis court converted from grade II listed farm buildings set high in the country a mile from the sailing centre of Noss Mayo and a half mile from the beach in South Devon. Coast Barn has been reduced by 20% down to £402 saving £101 for a week from 19th June or from 3rd July its £588; to book call 01647 434063, www.helpfulholidays.com ref L43.

The Coach House

Former Exmoor coach house for four plus tennis court from £699pw
The Coach House near North Molton, on the southern edge of Exmoor in North Devon, has been elegantly converted into a roomy ‘upside down’ cottage for four guests with the bedrooms on the ground floor the open plan living/dining/kitchen area above with beams to the apex and stunning, long rural views. Guests also have their own neat walled garden and use of an astro turf tennis court. Riding stables nearby and two pubs in nearby North Molton, while huge sandy beaches and excellent golf are at Saunton around 17 miles. A week’s stay from 26th June is £699. To book call 01647 434063, www.helpfulholidays.com F58

Rear view of Pigwigs Place
 

Larger families, Pigwigs sleeps six in South Devon with tennis court £780pw
Pigwigs Place, near Cornwood on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon’s South Hams lies in a beautiful 120 acre estate with woodland, formal gardens and a grass tennis court for guests’ shared use. Sleeping six it’s been well converted from a shippen with mainly pine furniture and colourful fabrics; it’s priced at £780 for a week from 26th June and 10th July, pets welcome. Many prehistoric hut circles on the open moor above, while the sea with an unspoilt sandy beach at Mothercombe is about eight miles. To book call 01647 434063, www.helpfulholidays.com ref A250

Cleave Tor

Granite lodge at Bovey Castle and tennis lessons for six from £1,450
Families or couples booking one of eight luxury self-catering granite lodges in the grounds of Bovey Castle Hotel on Devon’s Dartmoor have free use of the hotel’s hard and grass tennis courts; lessons are available for all levels from beginners upwards. Sleeping six plus the family pet, price for a week at Hay Tor from 27th June or Cleave Tor lodge from 11th July is £1,450 (tennis lessons extra). Guests also have a complimentary round of golf and use of the hotel’s other facilities including the pool, spa, cricket nets, croquet and restaurants. Book through Helpful Holidays on 01647 434063, www.helpfulholidays.com refs A155, A185, A186, A86, A87, A88, A89 and A94.

Hay Tor

 

Find out more about late 19th century dress at Blists Hill Victorian Town, near Ironbridge between Tuesday 4th and Sunday 9th August when the townsfolk are hosting their first ever Fashion Week.

Watch the daily fashion show on The Green and compare the extravagant outfits worn by wealthy Victorians to those of the common townsfolk, craft workers and street paupers. Bring a rug, sit on the grass and listen to the fascinating commentary.

Everyone is invited to come dressed for the occasion and enter the daily ‘Fashions of the 1900s’ competition with on-the-spot prizes for the best outfits.

Each day visitors can join in a different fun activity on The Green, such as decorating hats with feathers and bows or making dolls from pegs and rags, additional charges apply for items that are taken home. On Sunday there will be a ‘behind the scenes tour’ of the Town’s Wardrobe Department, where all the wonderful costumes for the townsfolk are made by skilled artisans. Lively entertainment, with a fashion theme, will be provided throughout the week by the Prince Albert Players.

During Blists Hill’s Fashion Week, the Victorian townsfolk can be seen going about their daily lives in the authentic houses and shops, baking bread, counting coins at the Bank and talking about Victorian remedies in the Chemist.

There is also a choice of places to eat at Blists Hill Victorian Town including the New Inn, entrance café and Fried Fish Dealers, where portions of traditionally prepared fish and chips are on offer. The smell of freshly baked bread at the Bakers is also sure to tempt.

Blists Hill Victorian Town is one of the ten Ironbridge Gorge Museums, which collectively won a top Gold Award in the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year category at the prestigious VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2015.

Blists Hill is open 10am to 5pm; a great value Annual Passport Ticket allowing unlimited entry into all ten Ironbridge Gorge Museums costs £27.95 per adult, £21.50 for seniors, £16.95 for children under 18, £68 for a family of two adults and all their children and £50 for a family with one adult; under 5s free (terms and conditions apply); Passports can also be bought online in advance saving 10% and individual

Entry tickets are available at each museum. Activities and workshops vary day-to-day and some carry an extra charge.

For further information, contact the Ironbridge Tourist Information Centre on Tel: 01952 433 424 or visit www.ironbridge.org.uk. The Gorge is easily reached via the M6 and M54 motorways exiting at Telford (M54 junction 4 or 6).

 

Balvonie House and The Drury, two very large and stylishly furnished houses on Scotland’s west coast, sleeping up to 26 guests, have joined House Parties collection of luxurious properties for holiday lets and special gatherings.

Professional chef services are available at both to take away the strain of preparing meals for a large party so guests can relax and enjoy their time away. They also have well equipped games rooms, free WiFi and welcome up to three pets each.

Balvonie's Emperor Bedroom

Just 45 minutes’ drive from Glasgow, Balvonie House sits in its own large garden high above Skelmorlie with panoramic sea views from many of the windows. The handsome detached property sleeps 26 in 11 bedrooms/nine bathrooms, including a four-poster and ground floor twin with an ensuite wet room. For guests’ entertainment a cinema-style screen rolls down in front of the open fireplace in the spacious sitting room to watch TV or DVDs, while for special gatherings the large dining room has a long table for 22, plus a second table in the window that can seat a further six guests.

The Drury at Oban which sleeps 22, has stunning views over the town and sea towards the Isle of Mull and beyond. The spacious Victorian house has three reception rooms, a large kitchen, eleven bedrooms and seven bathrooms spread over three storeys. Many of the rooms have sea views, while three of the bedrooms also look towards McCaigs Folly. The house is extremely light and spacious with many original features, which have been sympathetically restored such as the working shutters, cornicing, fire places and the grand staircase with its cupola, which allows natural light throughout the first floor landing down to the ground floor; there’s also free Sky Sports.

Outside there’s a hot tub and two sitting out areas plus a fire pit with grate, which can serve as a very large BBQ; parking for up to six cars and a secure gated drive way. A path from the end of the garden provides a convenient short cut into the town.

As well as providing full details and images of both properties, House Parties new interactive website includes information about things to see and do nearby ranging from visitor attractions and where to eat to activities such as golf, fly fishing, yacht charter and bicycle hire.

Balvonie House is priced from £3,845 (£148 per person) for a week’s stay and from £2,168 (£83 per person) for short two night midweek break, while The Drury is from £3,100 (£141 per person) for a week’s stay and from £1,705 (£78 per person) for two nights; pets extra. To book call House Parties on 01845 597614 or visit www.house-parties.com; follow on Twitter @FabHolidays.

*   *   *

Set in an acre of enclosed gardens, Goody Raise is a short walk from the centre of Grasmere village. Sleeping four the detached cottage has a large, elevated terrace with outdoor hot tub; a great place to relax and admire the views. Inside the main living area has a wood floor, warming wood burning stove and floor to ceiling windows. Prices start from £580 per week.

For more details and to download a copy of the new 2015 brochure visit www.lakelovers.co.uk or call 015394 88855; follow Lakelovers on Twitter @LakeloversUK or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lakelovers.

 

Lower Well Cottage